Aug 22, 2010

David Bahati is a man moved by the Leviticus passion that “Homosexuality is an abomination punishable by death.”

The Homosexual Habit¨is learned and can be unlearned” MP Bahati

David Bahati, Member of Ugandas Parliament, author of ¨Anti-Gay¨ Bill tabled currently before Parliament

¨When David Bahati fronted the Anti Gay Bill in Parliament last year, he caused uproar both at home and abroad that has seen him propelled into the limelight. Behind the vocal legislator however, is a dedicated family man with humble beginnings...

It is not difficult to see humility and people-centredness in Bahati. When I met him for the first time, we sat down and joked about his political life and how he would be trounced by gays if he did not watch his back. He told me he got into politics in 2006 as a way of giving back to the community, which gave so much to him. He had never seen himself as a politician and describes himself as a community worker. Without airs of self importance, Bahati impresses at first sight.

Why fight gays?

Bahati says he has a passion for service and trying to make a difference in people’s lives and also, fighting for what he believes is right. In his words, “One of the things I do is fight for the future of our children. And that is why I fight homosexuality.” Bahati accuses the rich for trying to influence the world with their homosexuality agenda, which he calls a great threat to society and the future generation.

“This habit is learned and can be unlearned,” he adds, quoting the Bible: “Homosexuality is an abomination punishable by death.” When I asked him how, as a Christian, he can advocate for a death penalty, he replied, “It is in Leviticus. Go and read – the penalty for homosexuality is death.”

However, he says the Bill has not been passed yet and whoever is concerned about the death clause should change it, but believes there is nothing more important than keeping Ugandan children morally upright. ” HERE

¨...I could not myself keep quiet whilst people were being penalized for something about which they could do nothing, their sexuality. For it is so improbable that any sane, normal person would deliberately choose a lifestyle exposing him or her to so much vilification, opprobrium and physical abuse, even death. To discriminate against our sisters and brothers who are lesbian or gay on grounds of their sexual orientation for me is as totally unacceptable and unjust as Apartheid ever was.¨ HERE

Another message for INCLUSION, CHRISTIAN LOVE and ACCEPTANCE of LGBTI Christians/others from Anglican HERO and Ugandan Bishop Christopher Ssenyonjo(recently preaching at Christ Church Cathedral Dublin, Ireland on part of his World Tour)

¨...Turning to the proposed Anti-Homosexuality Bill in Uganda, the Bishop said that "… it criminalises LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) people to the extent that even the words 'homosexual rights' must never be mentioned...Failure to report an LGBT person within 24 hours would be a crime...and committed homosexuals would face prison sometimes between 3 and 7 years, life imprisonment or even the death sentence." The Bill he said, "… intends to exterminate homosexuals." He continued, "… by the grace of God, some people are speaking against the Bill, President Obama described it as odious."

Urging people in Ireland to oppose the bill he said, "… they [homosexuals] may be different, and they are, but we should live with differences.” He went on to call for education because, "I have found that a lot of the prejudice against LGBT people comes from ignorance." HERE

Dear African Bishops of the Anglican Communion,

You are from over 400 dioceses in Africa. You are Anglican Bishops who are gathering TODAY along with the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Archbishop of York at a one-week All African Bishops' Conference that will take place in Entebbe, Uganda from August 23 to 29. Bishops, are you prepared to minister pastorally/confidentially and sensitively to ALL? To all Anglicans irrespective of sexual orientation? HERE

Sunday, 20th March, 2011 OFFICIALS and workers of the Ministry of Ethics and Integrity were on Monday morning stunned when they were bl...

REAL HERO/REAL LIFE: Bishop John Shelby Spong

“I was simply interpreting a rising consciousness,” he said. “Whether it was race or women or homosexual people, the issue was always the same: fighting against anything that dehumanizes a child of God on the basis of an external characteristic.” Bishop John Shelby Spong (click on his photo)

¨Churches say that the expression of love in a heterosexual monogamous relationship includes the physical, the touching, embracing, kissing, the genital act - the totality of our love makes each of us grow to become increasingly godlike and compassionate. If this is so for the heterosexual, what earthly reason have we to say that it is not the case with the homosexual?¨ Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu